Britain’s PM-in-waiting, Andy Burnham, has announced his plan to save the country’s pubs by hiking business rates on online retailers in a so-called ‘Amazon tax’.
The former Manchester Mayor will target the giant warehouses with a tax rise, with a belief this could fund a rates cut of up to 20% for high street pubs and shops.
Is he the messiah our hospitality sector has waited for? I spoke to Gabby Wilkes from the Rose & Lion in Twickenham about her reaction to the plans – which she called a “phenomenal idea” but raised the other pressures such as NI and VAT.
I then headed to SW1 for Westminster’s reaction, consulting both the left and the right. Max Marlow from the Adam Smith Institute slammed the plans as socialist while trade unionist Andy Twelves made a strong case for their implementation.
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